A housing chief has denied failing residents living on a derelict street in a housing estate earmarked for redevelopment.

Robert Diamond is one of only four residents remaining in Stainton Close, Buttershaw, Bradford, as highlighted in the T&A last night.

The row of houses is included in council plans for demolition under proposals to regenerate the estate. Most tenants deserted the street, leaving the remaining four living among boarded-up, vandalised properties.

Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe has pledged to investigate Mr Diamond's plight after a church minister revealed the 39-year-old, who has problems looking after himself since he suffered a severe head injury in an accident, was living in sub-human conditions and seemed to have slipped through the social services net.

Council contractors have twice broken into his flat thinking it was empty - once even changing the locks.

But Bradford Council's Director of Housing, Geraldine Howley, said today her officers first consulted the tenants in August 1999 and gave them three options: to relocate, stay in their homes or move to temporary accommodation.

National legislation meant if they chose the latter two options the tenants were entitled to a £1,500 Home Loss Payment. Mrs Howley said: "A second meeting was held with the remaining tenants on December 15 last year.

"I'm told they all said they wished to maintain their entitlement to the Home Loss Payment and consequently they refused offers of alternative accommodation.

"We have asked them if they will consider interim accommodation in Ridings Way, which will enable them to keep their entitlement and we are currently waiting for three tenants to come back to us. The deadline is today. We will be liaising with the church and social services to see if we can help Mr Diamond, who has agreed to move to Ridings Way, and we apologise to him about the contractors, who should not have kicked the door down."

Mr Diamond said today: "I knew about the payment but it's not worth staying in that place just for that. It's not what I really need."

And tenant Stephen Spencer, 41, said he did not want to move to Ridings Way as it was also under threat of demolition. Jean Harris, 63, who also lives in the block, said she moved to the street five years ago after her previous home on the same estate was demolished.

She said: "I am holding out for the Homes Loss Payment, so what is the point of moving me from my house to Ridings Way in the meantime? I don't want to be pushed from pillar to post."